Despite the fact 3.8% of people in the UK say they only wash their bed linen once a year (seriously!) and 21% once a month, jumping onto clean sheets has been voted No. 1 of the top 50 luxuries we Brits value the most.
The little luxury survey..
A survey asked 2000 people to name their favourite little luxury in life and freshly made sheets topped the list. The findings change between men and women, young and old but one thing is clear. It isn’t the expensive luxuries that bring the most happiness, but the simplest things in life that are the best. Even the best gadgets that money can’t buy, don’t beat a good old book or a luxurious dip in the bath.
Top 50 life’s little luxuries
- Freshly laundered bed linen
- Time to read a good book
- Getting a takeaway
- Having a long soak in the bath
- A fresh haircut
- A cosy night in
- A short break in a hotel or B&B
- Watching the sunset/sunrise
- A lunch date with a friend
- When someone makes you a nice cup of tea/coffee
- Receiving a bouquet flowers
- Five minutes to yourself
- Luxury quilted toilet paper
- Catching your favourite film on TV
- A glass of champagne
- Getting your car valeted
- Buying fresh artisan bread
- Using a premium perfume/cologne/fragrance
- Having a manicure
- Going to the theatre
- Receiving breakfast in bed
- Enjoying a fine wine / whiskey
- Buying tickets to a concert
- Buying yourself flowers
- Leaving work half-an-hour early
- Receiving a hand-written letter
- Keeping an empty seat beside you on public transport
- Getting tickets to a sporting event
- A picnic
- Buying new makeup
- Paying for someone to clean your home
- Hitting the snooze button
- Applying a face mask
- Ordering the most extravagant dessert on the menu
- When the clocks go back
- Hearing your favourite song on the radio
- Having a blow-dry
- Finding a plug socket on public transport
- A lazy bike ride
- Ordering the most expensive main course on the menu
- Skipping the ads on YouTube videos
- Splashing out on expensive toiletries
- Spending time away from your phone
- Buying a new candle
- Reading a magazine
- Getting a ride in a sports car
- An extra shot in your coffee
- Upgrading to premium seats at the cinema
- Being invited to corporate hospitality
- Getting 4G coverage unexpectedly
Why do we all love that clean sheet feeling?
In other surveys asking about your favourite feel-good moments, fresh sheets top the list once again. So what is it about a clean sheet that makes it so special?
In some ways it is human nature. We all feel more comfortable or have a pleasant feeling when we are clean. In fact a whopping 75% of people say they get a better night sleep with clean sheets as they feel more comfortable. It is not that surprising, as we are programmed to associate cleanliness to a safe, healthy environment. Just knowing we are sleeping on clean sheets, can be a powerful motivator.
However there are other factors. It could also be the scent of our favourite washing powder, reinforcing our experience and creating a trigger for that feel good factor each time we jump onto clean sheets.
What is your little luxury in life? Do you love the feeling of clean sheets and does it give you a better night’s sleep? Tell us what makes it so special for you…